Iran sends first monkey to space
2013-01-28 16:07
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Tehran - Iran said on Monday it has successfully sent a
monkey into space, describing the launch as another step toward Tehran's goal
of a manned space flight.
According to a brief report on state TV, the rocket
dubbed Pishgam, or Pioneer in Farsi, reached a height of 120km.
The report gave no other details on the timing or
location of the launch, but said the monkey returned to earth safely.
Iran has long said it seeks to send an astronaut into
space as part of its ambitious aerospace programme, including plans for a new
space centre announced last year.
In 2010, Iran said it launched an Explorer rocket into
space carrying a mouse, turtle and worms.
The US and its allies worry that technology from the
space programme could also be used to develop long-range missiles that could
potentially be armed with nuclear warheads.
Iran denied it seeks atomic weapons and claims it is
pursuing nuclear reactors only for energy and medical applications.
Iran has announced several successful launches of
satellites, dating back to 2005 in a joint project with Russia.
Tehran has not given details of its planned new space
facility, but it already has a major satellite launch complex near Semnan,
about 200km east of Tehran.
A satellite monitoring facility is located outside
Mahdasht, about 70km west of the Iranian capital.
Iran says it wants to put its own satellites into orbit to
monitor natural disasters in the earthquake-prone nation, improve
telecommunications and expand military surveillance in the region.
- SAPA
